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Cross-Border M&A Gets Harder

By

Matthew Curtin

Nov. 5, 2010 1:25 p.m. ET

Canada's decision to block BHP Billiton's $39-billion bid for Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan was not just a low for the mining giant's ambitions. It could also cause other global companies to think twice about big cross-border mergers and acquisitions. Faced with increasing political intervention, regulatory scrutiny and shareholder activism, corporate chiefs may conclude the mega-deal game isn't worth the candle.